The Lovereading4Kids comment

Full of magical excitement this is a charming story which tells how Martina helps Splash, the little puffin who loses his way returning from his first magic mission, to find his way home. Martina’s friendship with Splash gives her the best birthday ever. To view others click here.

Synopsis

A Birthday Surprise: A Pocket Money Puffin by Sue Bentley

Splash, the youngest of the magic puffins, has been caught in a storm and can't get back to Silver Dream Cliffs. Luckily for the little lost puffin, he meets Martina and the two become best friends. Together they try to find a way for Splash to return home - but first there is the problem of the puffin egg-stealers...This is a delightfully warm and endearing story, specially written for Puffin's 70th birthday by the creator of bestselling Magic Kitten , Magic Puppies and Magic Ponies Series .

About the Author

Sue Bentley is the creator of the Magic Kitten series, which includes the titles Classroom Chaos, Star Dreams and Sparkling Steps. She has met and owned many cats and kittens herself. She lives in Northamptonshire.

Place of birth: I’m a Leo and was born in Northampton, where I’ve lived all my life. Age is just a number. It’s how you feel that’s important. On a good day I’m about 10 years old, on a bad day I’m 120 years old.

My most treasured possession: That’s a difficult one. Most things we own, we could easily do without. So the things I really treasure are my family, my friends, my good health and my home. Next would be my books. I have hundreds and couldn’t live without reading. (I’ve even been known to stare at the back of a Cornflake packet, when I’ve been caught without a book! Sad but true.)

Where my ideas and inspiration come from: Ideas come from everywhere – reading mainly, but also watching TV, listening to scraps of conversation on a bus, talking with friends and school children. The best ones often pop into my head when I’m doing something I don’t need to think about, like going for a walk or washing-up.

My favourite place in the world and why?

If I hadn’t been an author: I might have been an actress. My friends say I can be very dramatic at times! Then again, I might have been a painter. I’m a some-time artist and print-maker and have had my work in lots of exhibitions. Then again I might have been a brain surgeon, a sky-diver, a chocolatier…